Printing machine



Dec 11,1923.

L.E.MORR$ON PRINTING.MAGHINE Original Filed Ma 22, 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet I ATTOR Y Dec. 11, 1923.

L. E. MORRISON PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 22 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Dec. 11 1923. 1,475,829

L. E. MORRlSON PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 22, 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 729 0 fywaw x BY m 5kg LU ATTORNEY Dec. 11 1923.

' L. E. MORRISON PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 22, 1919 9 Sheets-$heet 4.

INVENTOR 7/ wfWM/Mlm am g fl/M M I ATTORNEY Dec. "11, 1923. 1,476,829

' L. E. MORRISON PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 22 1919 9 Shee'zs-Sheet 5 afl IVENTORI ATTOR EY Dec. 11, 1923.

1.. E. MORRISON PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 22. 1915 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 11,1923. 1,475329 L. E. MORRISON PRINTINGMACHINE Original Filed May 22, .1919 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1923.

L. E. MORRISON PRINTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed May 22, 1919 INVENTOR if 777 ATTORNEY Dec. 11, 1923.

L. E. MORRISON PRINTING MACHINE Original Filed May 22, 1919 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 BY Jm ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS E. MORRISON, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ,ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND S.

HAINES PLUM, 2D, 01 MADISON, NEW JERSEY.

PRINTING MACHINE.

Substitute for application Serial No. 300,702, filed May 29, 1919. This application filed May 23, 1921. Serial No. 473,271.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, Lewis E. MORRISON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Newark. in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in printing presses. More particularly the several improvements embodied in this invention are designed for use on job printing presses of the Chandler and like types,

though not expressly limited thereto.

The object of the invention is to provide certain novel, useful and practical improvements and apparatus adapted to be attached to a job printing press with the object of converting the ordinary type of such press, which is hand fed and hand-delivered, into an automatic machine in which the sepa rating of the paper, the feeding and delivering are performed automatically.

More particularly one object of the invention is to provide an improved separating It is an important feature and object of the invention to so arrange, design and com struct the several mechanisms, and others,

referred to, that they may be attached to 'an ordinary printing platen press withogt requiring much. if any, alteration of the machine and whereby the entire operation of printing becomes automatic.

It is an equally important feature and object of the invention to arrange the several mechanisms referred to in such a manner that the machine may be quickly converted from an automatic machine into a handfed and hand-delivered press and vice versa.

This application is a substitute for the abandoned application for the same invention filed May 29, 1919; Serial Number 300,702.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises such features, arrangements and combinations of parts and elements as are hereinafter described and claimed, while reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a general side view of a platen printing press embodying the invention with details omitted;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the press looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view of the separating nozzle shown in position on top of the pile of sheets just prior to the separation of a sheet from the pile;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showingthe nozzle in position as picking up the separated sheet;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the nozzle looking in the direction of arrow 5 in Fi 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the nozz c;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified nozzle;

Fig. 8 is a. perspective view of the feed table and transfer means;

Fig; 9 is a right hand side view of the feed table, transfer means and adjacent parts of the press;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the gripping mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the ipping mechanism taken on line 11--11 of ig. 10

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the gripping mechanism taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a similar view taken on line 13-43 of Fig. 10; Fig. 14 is a detail view'of the gripper; Fig. 15 s a sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 0 taken on line 15-15 thereof;

Fig. 16 is a detail view of the latch for connecting the gripper carriage with the gripper operating link;

Fi 17 is a detail view showing the gripper latch connected to the gripper operating link; i

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of a portion of the press showing the feed table swung aside to convert the press into a hand operated machine; this figure also illustrates the jogging or stacking mechanismlocated in front of the plates and under the feed table;

Fig. 19 is a detail side view of the ogging mechanism;

Figs. and 21 are detail v ews of the front or forward jogger stops;

Fi 22 is a sectional detailview of the 16 side 1oggers;

Fig. 22 is a side view thereof;

' ig. 24 is a' detail view in elevation of 20 parts of the transfer mechanism; 9

Fig. is a plan view of said detail view;

Fig. 26 is a detail view of parts of the tripping means;

Fl'g. 27 is a view of the tripping means 25 looking in the directionof the arrow 27 in F ig 26;

ig. 28 is a sectional view of parts shown in 26 and'27;

Fig.v 29 is a detail view of the trapping link;"f""' J Fig. 30 is a view on line 10-10 of Fig. 29; Fig. 31 is a diagrammatic view. 0 .the tripping mechanism and associated parts;

Fig. 32 is a detail view of parts of the electrical connections;

Fig. 33 is a detail View looking in the direction of arrow 33 in Fig. 31.

Referring to Fig. 1,-which illustrates the left side of the press, the front of the press is denoted b the numeral 1 and the rear by the numera 2 for the purpose of locating the several parts of the mechanisms.

The press as illustrated in outline only is a typical job or platen press. The frame of the press is denoted in eneral by the reference numeral 3. 4 is t e driving shaft; 5 the platen pivot; 6 the platen; 7 the form member pivoted at 8. 9 indicates the linkin mechanism. 10, 10 is the connecting 60 rods and 12 the platen locking cam. 13 is the tripping means normally on presses of this type and 14' is the tripping lever. All of the aforesaid parts their construction, function and operation are well known in the art and need no further illustration or description.

The feed table, transfer mechanism and gripping mechanism are assembled to form a separate unitary structure or element which is supported, constructed and operated as follows.

On the left side of the press and suitably secured to the frame 3 is a bracket '15, Fig ure 8, having a rearwardly inclined upright 66 16 and a depending forward portion 17.

, are swung vertically 29and; 33 so that there is a dead lock as rearward as shown and the feed table lifted Similarl on the right side of the press there is a brac et 18, Fig; 2, having an upright 16 and a depending portion 17. In addition, the bracket 18 has a forwardly inclined upright 19 and a cam support 20. On the up-. ri 'ht 19 there is pivoted at 21 a bracket 22 which forms a supporting ledge at 23 for the feed table 24. The feed table, see Fig. 18, is in the form of an open framework pivoted at 25 to the said su port 22. The feed table rests normally on 51c said two upr hts 16, 16 which are provided with shoul ers 26, 26 for this purpose. It is further adapted to-be raised or swung in a vertical plane on the pivot 21 as shown dotted in Fig. 9, and

y, after havin been thus raised, the feed table Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the rear:

is movable laterally or may be swung horizontally on the pivot 25 as seen in Fig. 18.

The feed table and the bearing support 22 as one piece by the following means, see Fig. 9. '28 is a curved lever pivoted at 29 to the bearing 22 and having a tail stop 30. 31 is a link ivoted at 32 to the lever 28 and at 33 to the racket 18. 34 is a stop pin in the link 31. The parts are in the normal position as shown in Fig. 9 where it will be observed that the lever 28 rests'against the stop in 34 and the pivot 32 is below the levelo the pivots will be understood. When it is desired to raise the feed table, the lever 28 is pulled forward and downward into the dotted positionshown, whereby the bracket 22 is moved ofi the uprights-16, 16 and into horizontal. position as indicated. When the lever 28 is moved into its lowermost position, the tail stop 30 abuts the stop pin 34 on the under side thereof, and the pivot 29 now comes between the pivots 32 and 33 and is deadlocked as indicated. Thereafter the feed table may be swung horizontally to the right as shown in Fig. 18 and a hand feed board 36 may be laced in a socket 37 and the press ma%tien be hand-fed and hand-delivered. y movements in the o posite direction, the feed table is brou ht back laterally over the frame and is tl en lowered to rest on the brackets 15 and 18 on the parts 16, 16 thereof.

' On top of the feed table rests the apcr board 40, Fig. 8, which comprises the board 40 supported in an inclined position by means of its sides or legs 41, 41. Each side is provided with a slotted lug or foot 42, Fig. 9, through which passes a screw 43. To the feed table is secured a lug 44 having a slot 45. 46 is a shaft which passes through the slots 45 and which has an eccentric portion 47 journaled in the side 41 outside of which it carries a hand wheel 48. By first loosening the screws and then turning the hand wheels 48, the. shaft 46 is rotated to throw the eccentricportions 47 so as to ad- 180 justab e as shown.

Sepa'r'ating and feeding means.

The top sheet is separated from the pile of paper 52 and fed to the platen by the suction nozzle 53. See Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, also Fig. 1. The nozzle is carried on a supporting rod 54 and is adjustably secured thereto by a set screw 55. The rod is fixed to, a nozzle arm 56. To the connecting rods 10, 10 there is secured a U-shaped bracket 57, Figsrl and 2, by means of clamps 58. The base or bottom of the U-shaped bracket passes across the press at the rear. One arm of the u, on the right side of the press, is

extended upward and forms a support 59 for the nozzle arm pivot 60. It follows, that as the form, member moves back and forth the nozzle arm with the nozzle" is moved likewise and the paper, after havin been picked up by the nozzle, is transferre from the pile and to the laten as will be hereinafter more specifica ly set forth. 61, 61 are support 59 respectively wherelziy moved out of the way whenever desired.

cooperating stops on the nozzle arm 56 and the arm may be swung u ward into the otted posi tion shown in ig. 1 and'thus thenozzle The nozzle itself comprises the support ing body 62 provided with guide ways 63.

,1 In the latterslides the nozzle bracket 64 V which falls in said guides by gravity untilthe stop 65 rests on the top of the body 62, l see'Fig. 4. The nozzle bracket hasa foot 66 to which are secured depending ears 67, 67. -68 is an adjustable stop. The nozzle 69 is pivoted at 70 in the said ears and has a forwardly projectin relatively heavy head 71 and a stop 72. he nozzle 69 is hollowand provided with a pipe connection 73. The

nozzle head has a curved paper engaging and.

curling surface 74 and a straight paper pick up surface '75 formed with a shoulder 76 be tween the two openings or slits 77, 77. The nozzle arm 56 carries a cam roller. 78 which runs on the nozzle cam 79 secured to the aforesaid cam support 30 see Fig. 9.

When the press is open the nozzle arm is in the dotted position inFig. 9, the roll 78 being at the foot of the cam, and; the nozzle '69 hangs in the position shown. When now th'e press closes, the nozzle arm is moved forward into theposition shown in full lines in F lg. 9, and guided in its movement by the cam until the supporting rod 54 has reached its final forward position, where the nozzle is brought to rest upon the paper as shown in Figs. 9 and enlarged in Fig. 3. As the pile of paper decreases the nozzles drop dee er as will be understood.

en the nozzle comes to rest upon the paper, the head of the nozzle is brought up against the stop 68. At this moment t e suction occurs, as hereinafter explained and at the same time the press opens and the nozzle support is lifted and moves up and away from the nozzle which falls as it were, see Fig. 4. The top of the body or bracket 62 abuts the stop and lifts the nozzle bracket 64, thereby causing the nozzle to fall forward as shown until its stop 72 hits the foot 66. The fall of the nozzle around the pivot causes a forward sliding movement of the top sheet of the paperaway from the leading edge. The sucking up of the paper by the two slits 77 causes a buckling or crimping of the paper against the shoulder 76. The sliding movement away from the leading edge of the paper underneath and the crimping of the sucked up sheet together causes perfect separation from the pile.

The paper is then carried in over the platen and at the proper time, the suction ceases to act, and the sheet is dropped upon the transfer table.

Before explainin the latter, I wishto refer to the modifi nozzle shown in Fig. 7. In this instance the shoulder 76 is absent and the bottom straight picking up surface 80 is rearwardly inclined. This nozzle is intended for use with heavy paper or card board where crimping is not possible and where a somewhat more accentuated bending of the sheet is desirable.

- Transfer table.

The transfer table, 8, comprises an upper rod 81, pivoted-in rackets 82 on the feed table, two side arms 83, 83 and a lower shaft 84 journaled in said side arms. The shaft 84 is constantly rotated by means of the metal roller 85 fast on it and fibre rollers 86 and 87. The latter is driven from the wheel 88 on a shaft or stud 89 which also carries a smaller Wheel 90, which is driven from the platen locking cam 12. The stud 89 is carried by an arm 91 ivoted at 92 and the wheel is ke t in fi'ictional contact with the platen ocking cam 12 by a sprin 93.

Re erring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the roller 85 and wheel 87 are relatively fixed, but that the wheel 86 runs on them by gravity in that said wheel 86 is provided with an opening 94 larger than the stud 95 on which said wheel is carried. The wheels 86 and 87 are in turn'supported on the plate 96 which is slotted at 97 and which plate is adapted to swing on the shaft 84. 98 is a spring which bears against a stud 99 fast in the arm 83. Thus the wheel 87 is kept down upon the wheel 88 by the spring 98 and the wheel 86 rests by gravity on wheel 88 and roller 85, whereby good frictional drivin is obtained.

lieferring now to Fig. 9, it will be seen side as explained in the foregoing.

that the arm 88 on the right side of the press carries a cam or stop .100 pivoted on said arm at 101 and adjustable by a screw 102 and slot by an arm 106 pivoted to the platen at 107 and connected to the upright 16 of the bracket 18 by a link 108.

The transfer table further is provided with paper supports 108, and side guides 109. The latter carry fingers 110. The whole transfer table may be swung upward and forward until it rests upon the feed table asshown in Fig. 9. This is done to get the transfer table out of the way when it is desired to examine the platen and when the feed table is raised and moved to one When the transfertable-- is lowered as in Figs. 8 and 9, it is brought" to rest on the roller 105. When the press opens or closes, the transfer table is lifted up out of the way of the platen by the arm 106 and roller 105, said arm 106 moving with the platen as shown in full and dotted lines. When the transfer table is lowered, the spring 98 on the plate 96, Figures 24 and 25, forces the plate downward, hence the wheel 87 into drivin contact with the-wheel 88.

'When the transfer table is raised the spring merely forces the plate 96 into a position with the end of the slot 97. The wheel 86 will always fall into'contact with the wheel 87 and roller 85 thus insuring a good drive for the shaft 84.

If a short sheet is fed, it is of course, desirable to have the transfer table lowered as much as possible so as to have the distance between the shaft 84 and the platen as small as poss'ble and consequently the cam or stop 100 isadjusted so that it will not touch the edge of the feed table and keep the transfer table out of contact with the lifting roller 105. When a longer sheet is fed, it is desirable to increase the distance between the shaft 84 and the platen and the cam 100 will in that case be achusted so that when the transfer table is in its lowermost position, the said cam 100- will 1 abut-the edge of .p'laten moves up, simply be moved out the transfer table and distance away from that case, when the the roller 105 will of contact with the keep it. the desired the platen and in lip 104. v

To sum 'upf' The transfer table bridges between the feed table and the platen. The transfer table is moved up out of the way by the arm 106 and roller 105. \Vhen the transfer table moves down it will continue to rest on the roller 105 except in the case of long sheets, when the transfer table will not be lowered on the roller 105, but the latter will move down away from the transfer table and the latter will only move as low as permitted by the cam 100. The

108. The said arm 83 is carried sheet is dro ped upon the transfer table and 1s run 0 onto the platen by the swiftly rotating shaft 84.

The gripping wwclmn/ism.

See Figs. 10 to 17 inclusive. also Figs. 31 and 32. Secured to the feed tables are two rods, preferably square in cross section, and number 110 and 111. The gripper carriage 112 slides on said rods, which thus serve to support the gripper mechanism. The gripper carriage slides on the rod 110 by means of a suitable jaw or forked bearing 113, Figs. 10 and 32, and slides on the rod 111 by means of guide rolls 114, 114, supported on the gripper carriage by suitable means or plates 115. Underneath the latter, Fig. 17, there is )ivoted at 116 a latch 117 which projects ieyond the end of the gripper carriage as shown, Fig. 16. The latch 117 is urged downward by a small coiled sprin 118 inserted between the latch and un erneath the lower plate 115. The latch is adapted to snap into engagement with a sliding bearing 110 which moves on a rod 120. The sliding bearing has a cut out portion 121, see Fig. 12, into which the latch drops, and sloping approaches or cam portions 122, 122. The bearing 119 is further provided with a stud 123 to which is pivoted the gripper carriage operating link 124, the other end of which is pivoted at 125 to the frame 126 of the inking mechanism 9, see Fig. 1..

From; this it will be seen that no mather in what position the gripper carriage may be with respect to the bearing 11!), when the latter commences to move on the rod 120, was when the press is running, the bearing will move under the latch and the latch will drop into the bearing. In moving under the latch the sloping approaches 122 will first lift the latch up, so that the bearing can pass under the same. Thereafter the gripper carriage will be reciprocated corresponding to the operation of the press by thelink 124.

This feature of detachably connecting the gripper carriage from the operating link 124 is necessary when it is remembered that at times the feed table, hence the gripper carriage, operated by hand feeding or for repairs or other reasons. During such operation the link 124 will reciprocate the bearing 119 and when it stops it may or may not be in the exact position underneath the gripper carriage (which latter will have been mov forward or to the left in Fig. 11). The reengagement of the bearing 119 and the gripper carriages is, however, automatically completed by the bearing moving under the latch as described.

The gripper carriage is drawn forward when the feed table is raised by the followis lifted and the press bearings ing means. On a rod 125, Figs. 10, 11 and 15, secured to the feed table, slides a spring 126 which bears against the underside of the feed table frame 24. There is suflicient tension in said spring to maintain it in any position to which it may be moved. The spring has a nose 127 which projects in the path of the gripper carriage 119 or the plate thereof. 128 is a tape connected to said spring which passes over a roller 129 and is attached to the curved lever 28, see Fig. 9.

When the said lever is swun down to raise the feed table, the latch 117 18 of course at once disengaged from the slidablebearing 119 and as the lever moves down, the spring 126 is pulled to the left by the tape 128 and carries the gripper carriage with it. When the table is again lowered, the bearing 119 will engage the latch and carry the griper carriage rearward, to the right, in reguar operation, whereby the spring 126 will u again be moved to its norma position.

Returning now to the grippermeohanism,

. the gripper itself is numbered 130 and comprises a relatively fixed lower jaw 131 and a movable upper jaw 132 connected by a toggle joint 133. The lower jaw is carried by a clamp 134 secured to the carriage 112. The upper jaw is opened and closed upon the lower jaw'by means of a gripper operating link 135 connected to the toggle joint 133 and adjustably pivoted at 136 to an arm Nil 137 in turn adjusta ly carried on a gripper shaft 138 by a set screw 139. From this it is clear that the gripper may be adjusted sideways by sliding the clamp 13 i on the carriage 112 and by sliding the arm 137 onthe shaft 138. The shaft is supported in bearing 1410 and a spring 141 tends to turn the shaft in a clockwise direction to close the gripper. On the gripper shaft is fixed an arm 142 bearing a roller 1 13. 1 14 is a gripper latch and opening means and consists of a narrow strip of metal pivoted at 1&5 and having a gripper opening finger 146 and a latch piece or portion 14-7. 1&8 is a spring which tends to force the opening tinger 1 16 upwards. On the feed table frame is secured a closing roller 14?) and on a rod 150 is adjustably mounted a gripper opening cam 151 by means of aset screw 1.52,

During the operation or the press the gripper carriage is moved forward to the left in Figure 10, when the press closes and vice versa. At the end of the rearward. movement (to the right in 16) the opening finger 146 abuts the opening rollerl i and is depressed, the tail piece or latch 147 is moved upward and the shaft 138 is turned uicklv by the spring 14:1 in a clockwise cirection. Hence the arm 137 is likewise moved to straighten out the toggle joint and the upper gripper jaw closes with a snap upon the lower jaw which has moved in under the paper on the platen, see Fig. 9.

The gripper is thereafter moved iorw and carries the printed sheet in under feed table. At the proper time, depending upon the size of paper printed, the roller 14:3 moves under. the opening cam 151 and the arm 142 is depressed, consequently the gripper shaft '138 is moved in an anti-clockwise direction and the gripper is opened and the sheet dropped. As the arm 1 12 is depressed the catch 1.53 thereon'snaps above the latch. 146 and is held by the latter until the grip-- per is closed. When the gripper is closed the latch 1 17 snaps above the catch 153 and thus'serves to maintain the gripper in respectively open and closed positions. The printed sheet is delivered or dropped from the gripper onto the receiving board and is jogged or stacked-in a neat pile by the S tacking mechanism.

This mechanism is illustrated in detail in Figs. 18 to23 inclusive, 7

The receiving table or board 150 is suitably seeured to the frame of the press beneath the feed table and immediately in front of the platen. The table 160 is provided with longitudinal guide slots 161 161 and transverse guide slots 162., 162. Secured to the table 160 are two guides 163 164: is a very thin plate which may at; justed by hand in the guides 163 and w ic. carries twn yielding front stop fingers 16%), 165 pivoted to said plate 164i and held by springs 167.

Pivoted to, the platen rocker bearing? by means of a hinged plate 171 a 1 I 172. The other ends of ii pivoted to a jogger cam plate 173 pi with jogger cams 174:, one on'eaeh jogger cam plate further carger 172 having vertical slit said rear jogger to be moved distance over the fined curved pa 1.77. e 178, 178 are posts whieh slid aforesaid guide slots 161 and support the rear jogger as he The numerals 179, 179 denctesid which are carried by has 1180 180. to be adjusted in nuts 182, supported in guides further carry each. c rolls are held against spring 133.

The printed sheet is gripper down upon i falling on said tab ward over the curved guides wards'the stops 165. Th h 1 moment when the press i the cam plate 173 is the front jogger 1753, Wu against the stops 165 jogs the getl'ier longitudinally. As t is plate 17 earns 17 1 move forward the can i rolls move inwardly on said cams and carry the slides 181 and the side joggers 179 along, so that the pile is jogged or evened by said side jogger The stroke of the rear jogger175 is fixed by the movement of the platen rocker bearing 170. The forward stops 165 may be adjusted by moving the plate 164 with the stops 165, and the adjustment of the side joggers 179 is effected by adjusting the position of said joggers in the slides 181 whose movement is fixed.

The movements of the several above mentioned parts of the mechanism is coordinated with the movement of the press, so that as the latter opens, the suction nozzle 53 deposits a sheet on the platen. The sheet is then printed and when the press opens, the gripper moves toward it, seizes the sheet, moves forward and deposits the sheet on the receiving table and so on. When it is desired to hand feed the press, the feed transfer table is thrown up on the table, the latter is lifted whereby the gripper mechanism is detached from the operating link 124. Thereafter the feed table is moved to one side and the press ma be hand fed, the jogging mechanism stacking the paper as the operator drops it onto the receiving table.

Tripping mechanism.

Means are provided for tripping'the form or tripping the press. as it is usually stated. In this instance, means are provided for operating the usual tripping lever 14. to actuate the usual tripping mechanism on the press in case the suction nozzle fails to pick up a sheet and feed it to the platen, and in case the gripper fails to remove the printed sheet from the platen. See Figs. 1, 2,10 and 26 to 33 inclusive.

eferring to Fig. 1, the form 190 is as usual connected to an eccentric shaft 191 y means not shown. 192 is an arm secured to the shaft and which arm is connected by a link 193 to another arm 194 fast to a shaft 195. The latter is provided with a slotted arm 1.96. 197 is a pin which plays in the slot in the arm 196 and which pin is fast in a locking arm 198 mounted on a second shaft 199. Outside the frame the shaft 199 carries an arm 200 connected by a. link 201 to the tripping lever 14' which is pivoted at 292. All of the foregoing is well known in the art.

When the tripping lever 14'is thrown by the operatorto the left in Fig. 1-the shaft 199 is rotated.anti-clockwise. The shaft 195 is rotated clockwise. The link 193 is lifted and swings the arm 192 upward, thereby rotating the eccentric shaft 191 to withdraw or trip the form 190, all in a well known manner.

The present automatic tripping and un tripping-mechanism comprises the following elements. See Figs. 26 to 33 inclusive. To the bottom of the tripping lever 14 is pivoted a head 210 by means of a stud 211.

-The head is provided with a slot 212. 213

is a trip cylinder secured to the head 210 by screws 214. lVithin the cylinder there is a plug 215 having a shoulder 216. 217 is a spring urging the plug outward. The cylinder is connected by a hose 218 to the pump 219, and is provided with a slot 220 adapted to receive the latch 221 which is pivoted on said cylinder 222. The latch is urged inward in said slot 220 and against the plug 215 by a spring 223. The latch also carries a roller 224 and is operated by the tripping link 225 which is pivoted to the U-shaped bracket or frame 57 at 226, see Fig. 1.

The link 225 is adapted to slide in the slot 212 in the head 210 and is provided with a shoulder 228 adapted to take against the shoulder 216 on the plug 213 and a ledge 229 whereby said link is kept occupying the full depth of the slot 212 as will be understood from Fig. 28. The link carries a fixed unlatching finger 2'30 and a movable unlatching hook 231 pivoted at 232 and adapted to be operated by a magnet 233. The finger 230 is adapted to contact with the roller 234 to depress it so as to move the latch out of the slit 220. Similarly, the hook 231 is adapted to contact with a post 234 on the latch to lift the latter to the same effect. 235 is a slot in the link 225 and 236 a button or projection. I

Mounted on the frame of the press is an air release 240, Fig. 31, comprising a fixed bracket 241 having an air hole 243 connected tothe pump by hose connection 243. Pivoted on said bracket at-24/t is an arm 2-1-5 having a hole 246 through which a link 24 7 is adapted to slide. The link has a notch 248 and the arm has a lever 249. The latter has a pin 250 which passes through a hole in the arm 245 and into the hole 246 through which the pin is adapted to enter the notch 248 in the link 217. T he lever 249 is pivoted at 251 and a spring seated pin 252 acting against the short arm 253 of the lever 249 normally keeps the pin 259 down in engagement with the notch 218 in the link 247. 254 is an eye in the lever 219 connected by a. chain 255 to a switch levcr 256. The pump 219 is pivoted to the floor at 257 and the piston rod 258 from the pump piston is connected at 260 to the gear 261 on the press.

eferring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that if the suction takes place through the hose 300. the nozzle 53 picks up a sheet. Suction then also occurs in the trip cylinder 2'13, whereby the plug 215 is sucked or moved inwardly and the latch 221 under influence by the spring 223 snaps in from of the plug and rests against the shoulder 216 thus keeping the plug away from the trip operating link 225 which as the press opens slides idly in the slot 212. in the head 210. The sheet is then deposited on the platen as air is permitted to enter below the pump piston as will be presently explained.

Next the press closes for printing and the link 225 mediately after the shou der 228 on the link has passed the plug 215, the fixed finger on the link hits the latch roller 224 and un- ,latches the plug, which thereupon is moved out by the spring 217 and now rests against the surface of the link 225. After printing the press again opens and if suction occurs, the above mentioned operation is repeated and the link 225 has at no time been in operative connection with the tripping lever 14.

That is to say, normally the plug 215 projects into the path of the shoulder 228 on the link 225 and if it remained in that position the shoulder 228 would catch said plug and move the tripping lever and trip the press; .But because the suction operates properly. the plug is sucked out of the path of the shoulder 228 and latched. But as soon as the said shoulder has passed the plug, the latch is operated by the link finger 230 to unlatch the plug which then'moves outward ready for the next operation. And inasmuch as the tripping mechanism has not operated, the air release 240 remains un disturbed.

If. however, the suction fails to act so that air enters through the nozzle 53. the plug 215 will remain in its projected or outward position as shown in Fig. 28. Consequently. when the press is closed for print ing. the shoulder 228 on the link 225 will catch said plug, that is, the link will become operatively connected with the tripping lever and throw the latter, thereby tripping the press, and at the same time, the operation of the tripping mechanism will cause the shaft 199 therein to be rotated anticlockwise as explained and through an arm 260 fast on said shaft. the link 247 connected to the air release will be operated and the arm 245 thereof will be moved forward on the pivot 244 and the air hole 212 will be uncovered and air will pass into the pump. Continuing the operation of the press, on the opening stroke. the button 236 on the link 225 will abut the head 210 fast to the tripping lever and carry the latter back to position, thereby untripping the press. on the next stroke, the press will again be trip-' pcd, because air having entered through the air release, suction will again fail, so that after one tripping because of failure of the suction. the press will continue tripping until the cause of the trouble is located and attended to and the air release set to cover the air opening 242.

The air release is set or rendered inactive moves throu h the head. Im-

as follows; When the operator discovers that the press is tripping, he lifts the switch handle-or whatever other element the chain 255 is attached to-thercby lifting the lever 2&9 and lifting the pin 250 out of engagement with the socket in the link 24:7. The latter will therefore no lon er operate the arm 24-5 to uncover the air 1ole. The arm 245 is moved into normal position by the collar 261 on the link 24?, Fig. 33.

The tripping mechanism is also arranged to trip automatically in the event that the gripper fails to take a sheet from the platen, as for instance when the sheet is torn and cannot be reached by the gripper or for other reasons. In this case the unlatching of the latch 221 so as to permit the plug 215 to move into the path of the shoulder 228 on the link 225 "is done electrically in ad- Vance of the movement of said shoulder.

Accordingly, an electric circuit is established on the press comprising the following elements. A thin strip of brass 265 it attached to the movable jaw of the gripper, but insulated. therefrom as seen in Fig. 31. A wire 266, Fig. 10, passes from said gripper contact 265 to a contact267 on the gripper carriage, Fig. ation the contact 267 slides against a brass spring contact 268 carried by the feed table and which makes contact with a spring seated button 269 carried by the frame. From the button a wire 270 leads to the bat tery 271. Fig. 32. merely illustrates the manner in whichthe circuit is established between the feed table and the frame. If the feed table were not arranged to be swung away from the frame, the parts illustrated in Fig. 32 might be omitted. I

In Fig. 31, the contacts 267 and 268 are shown diagrammatically and the circuit is follows. From the battery 271., wire 270. contacts 268 and 267, wire 266 to the gripper contact 265. From the other side of the battery. to the switch 256 to the magnet ii 233 and to ground on the frame.

ll hen the gripper moves in over the platen to take a sheet, contact is established between contacts 267 and 268. If there is no sheet on the platen tor the ,Q'ripper to tak closing of the gripper establishes the circuit as follows.

From battery to gripper contact 265, through the frame to the magnet 2533 to the 32. During the operv switch and back to the battery. Consequently the magnet is energized and when the press closes for printing, the hook 231 will be in the path of the post 234 on the latch lift the latter away from the plug" 215 which will be caught by the shoulder 228 and the press tripped. This in turn operates the air release and prevents further feeding of the paper to the platen. There after the switch is opened to reset the air release and break the circuit. The trouble provided for.

See Fig. 2. The

is thereafter attended to. The press then commences to operate again and the switch is left open until after one sheet has been fed to the platen, after which the switch is closed. If the switch is closed sooner, the press will again be tripped because there is then no sheet for the gri pers to act upon.

Means is further provi ed for adjusting the release of the sheet from the nozzle at the right point over the platen depending upon whether the sheet is long or short. pump piston is apertured at 270. A pivoted cover 271 covers the hole 270. 272 is an adjustable stop depending through the pump top. On the suction stroke of the piston 259 the cover 271 will be depressed by the stop when the latter is reached, the air hole will be uncovered and air admitted below the piston, consequently the sheet will be released from the nozzle.

It will be seen from the foregoing that automatic separating and feeding has been That automatic gripping and delive as well as stacking takm place automatica ly. Also, that in the event the suction or the gripping mechanism does not function to respectively feed and take a sheet, the press will be automatically trip ed.

All of the said mechanisms are attached to the press without any material alterations thereof except the boring of a few holes for securing brackets and the like. And as shown, the suction means and the entire feed table and gripping mechanism may be swung aside in an instant and the ress be ready for hand operation.

ile operating by hand there is of course no suction and consequently the plu 215 in the trip cylinder would remain in t e path I of the shoulder on the link 225 and the press tripped constantly unless some provision is made to the contrary. Accordingly, there is pivoted at 275' on the tripping lever 14 a link 276 having a hand grip 277. The

link 276 is at its bottom, see Figs. 27 and 28, pivoted to a bell crank 278 pivoted at 279. The bell crank 278 has a nose 280 adapted to engage a pin 281 which in turn is designed to contact with the plug 215. When operating the press for hand feeding, the hand grip 277 is tied down as it were to the grip inglever by aring or loop 283 to lift the ink 276. This inturn operates the bell crank 278 and the nose 280 thereof moves in pin 281 inwardl and pushes the plug 215 back into the cy inder 213. Thus during hand operation, the plug is kept permanently out of the way of the tripping shoulder 228 and as the link 225 moves with the form member of the press, it slides idly past the tripping lever without tripping. 1f the operator desires to trip the press he throws the -tripping lever as usual. In Fig. 28 parts of th bell crank 278 are shown dotted for the sake of clearncss. To facilitate the separation of the top sheet a nozzle 290 is provided which is connected to the pump by a hose 291 and blows a blast of air on thepile of sheets 52.

The foregoing is thought to clearly set forth the construction of the various mechanism whereby a platen press may be made wholly automatic in operation. It is of course understood, that nothing herein is intended as a specific limitation, but that changes and modifications may be made in the detailed construction without departing from the principle of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim.-

1. In a printing machine, means for supporting the paper to be printed in an in clined position thereon, means for lifting said paper supporting means longitiulinally of said machine into a osition away from operative relationship with the said machine, and mechanism permitting said paper supporting means to be moved in a horizontal plane away from the said printing machine.

2. In a printing machine, paper supporting means adapted to rest in a given position on said machine, mechanism for movin said supporting means upward into a su stantially horizontal plane, means for locking the said paper supporting means when it rests in said given position and when it is moved upward and means permitting said paper supportin means to be swung to one side clear of t e said printing ma chine.

- 3. In a printing machine, paper supporting means, means for pivoting the same in the said, machine, means for locking said paper supporting means in normal position in said machine, means for operating said supporting means in the said pivot to lift the said supporting means out of said normal position and mechanism carried by said pivoting means permitting said paper supporting means to be moved to one side in a substantially horizontal plane away from operative relationship with the said machine.

4. In a printing machine, brackets secured 116 to the frame of said machine. a support pivoted on one of said brackets, paper supporting means carried by said support. means for operating the latter to cause said paper supporting means to rest on the said brack 120 ets and for moving said paper supporting means away from said brackets and mocha-- nism for swinging said paper supporting means on the said support to one side of the said machine.

5. In a printing machine, a paper feed table, a paper transfer mechanism pivot d on the said table and adapted to be swung upward to rest thereon, paper registering means on said feed table and mechanism for ill ing and registermg means, paper gripping and delivery means, a feed table frame for supporting all of the aforesaid means and anism for pivoting the said teed table o the said machine to move said feed table i or out or a given position with respect to said machine, and means for locking said feed table in both of the said two positions,

Y. a printing machine, a pair of brackets soured to the frame thereof, said brackhaving supporting shoulders, a feed ale pivoted to one of said brackets and peed to rest upon the supportin shoulthereof, and mechanism for liftlng said porting shoulders an moving said teed able on the said one bracket sideways away rrom the said machine. 8. ln a printing machine, a movable form me iber, teed table, grippin mechanism ind by said teed table, a his pivoted on d movable form'member and detachably a ed with said gripping mechanism. to crate the same on said feed table and means tor moving the latter upward and sianeonsly therewith disengaging said pi ping mechanism from the said link.

in a printing machine, a movable form inemleer, a teed table, gripping mechanism led by said feed table, a linlr pivoted on "d form member and detachably engaged 1h said gripping mechanism to operate the me on said tecdftable and means for mov latter upward and simul aneously tn, disengaging said grip ing mechirom the said link, and means said ping mechanism for automatically en with the said linli. when said teed Q as been lowered. it). a printing machine, a movable platen, and a movable form member, a grip ping mechanism, means for supporting said grippin mechanism in cooperative relationsh p said platen, a link secured to said 1h. member for operating said gripping iced tahle upward away from the said supmechanism, means for raisin said gripping mechanism away from said p aten and auto matioally disengaging said mechanism from the said operating link.

11. In a printing machine, a platen, a feed table, a gripping mechanism supported on the same, a gripper carriage adapted to move towards and away from said platen, means for crating said gripper carriage, mechanism En" raising said feed table and said gripper mechanism and simultaneously therewith engaging said gripper carriage from its operatin means and for automatically moving sai gripper carriage on said feed table in a direction awayfrom the said platen.

12. In a printing machine, supporting means, an arm pivoted thereon, a feed table pivoted on said arm, a link pivoted on said supporting means and a lever pivoted to said lever and said arm for operating the till means, meanslor supporting said separating means in a normally active position on the said form member, means for moving said mechanism away from said platen and means for inovin said separating means into inactive position on said form member.

14. In a printing machine, a platen, a form member, paper supporting mechanism, paper gripping mechanism, means for supporting the said two mechanisms in normal active positions with relation to the said platen, paper separating mechanism, means for supporting the latter on the said form member in a normal active position relative to the said paper supporting mechanism and the said platen, means for moving said supporting and gripping mechanisms into inactive position relative to the platen and means for moving said separating mecha- 

